Twenty prototypes of The Mind Museum‘s science exhibits were exposed to 300 pre-invited guests letting them the first to taste what it’s like to be in the Philippines’ first world-class science musem which will open late this year in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The country’s P1 billion project which was raised purely through private donations was made into reality by a non-profit and non-sectarian group, Bonifacio Art Foundation led by Fernando Zobel de Ayala.
“The Mind Museum is purely a collaboration of Filipino talents composed of designers & scientists.” says Kai, one of the exhibit managers. The Mind Museumcan accommodate 500-600 people at a time and it would take more than 4 hours to completely visit the place if one would spend a minute or so to the 250 group of exhibits or close to a thousand if counted individually. The entrance fee is not finalized yet but it may likely be comparative to other science-oriented or local parks in Manila but they also have socialized entrance fees for public students.
One very interesting story worth sharing by The Mind Museum is since the country doesn’t have a native expert in Human Anthropology yet, and The Human History exhibit requires them to make a cast of Lucy, the first and almost complete set of a 3.2 million years old human Australopithecus Afarensis teenage girl, Kai needed to contact her professor back in France to help them make an exact replica that they need to take a photo of it and submit it to him every 4 days.
“The Philippines is the only country in Asia that doesn’t have a world-class science museum. In 2003, Filipino students of high school ranked 42nd out of 45 countries and grade school ranked 23rd out of 25 countries in Asia. This is according to Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS), a survey conducted every 4 years” says Alex Limcaco. “But efforts are being made to change that“, she added. Alex is the head of the online fundraising campaign of The Mind Museum during the Café Scientifique talk with a New York-based science historian in Fully Booked, Taguig last Feb. 18th. The country’s first ever world-class P1 billion worth science museum is currently under construction through the aids of private local and international institutions then will be opened in December this year. Somebody joked “Coz if we’re gonna wait for the government’s aid, nothing can be done soon.”
“The Philippines is the only country in Asia that doesn’t have a world-class science museum. In 2003, Filipino students of high school ranked 42nd out of 45 countries and grade school ranked 23rd out of 25 countries in Asia. This is according to Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS), a survey conducted every 4 years” says Alex Limcaco. “But efforts are being made to change that“, she added. Alex is the head of the online fundraising campaign of The Mind Museum during the Café Scientifique talk with a New York-based science historian in Fully Booked, Taguig last Feb. 18th. The country’s first ever world-class P1 billion worth science museum is currently under construction through the aids of private local and international institutions then will be opened in December this year. Somebody joked “Coz if we’re gonna wait for the government’s aid, nothing can be done soon.”
The Mind Museum‘s target P1 billion fund has only reached 95% says Alex, Assistant Fundraising Manager. For more information to donate for as low P1, 000 click here. The donor’s name will be written in one of the walls of the museum for 10 years and will receive The Mind Museum badge that can be displayed on one’s social networking profiles or personal websites. The next exhibit testing event of The Mind Museum will be in the next few months with few more prototypes to add. [Photo above is Alex Limcaco, of The Mind Museum]
Photos of the exhibit prototypes
Packing Square Box : Arrange and fit all the squares in the given space. Discover the different ways of packing objects.
Bernoulli’s Principle : Tilt the basket and watch the floating ball follow. Learn more about what make the birds and airplanes fly.
Whirlpool : Marvel as the balls spiral around the giant gravity well.
Solar bugs : The sun (represent by the halogen lamp) makes the bugs come alive. Learn how solar energy powers the motor that makes the bugs move.
Air : Pass your hand over the sensor and watch a tornado form.
Fungi: Did you know that mushrooms, a member of the Kingdom of Fungi not only come in the shape of an umbrella? Tinker with these other mushroom forms and have fun hitting, stepping and folding them.
Spelling Life : DNA and GenesHow much do you kow about DNA? Answer the multimedia game and know more about this unique code that is responsible for the diversity in living things.
Canopy of Life : Marvel at nature’s wonder by watching plants grow or animals move in high speed or low speed through the Spin Browser.
Big Small Wonders : Have you ever wondered what lies in the world of the very small? View the tiniest details of various items around you, including your skin through a hand-held microscope
Photo source from Alex Limcaco of The Mind Museum. This event happened on May 26th, 2011 at the NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
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